France: An un-attributed mounted pair of miniature medals to a French Combat veteran of the Chasseurs a Pied Alpins

- Croix Du Combattant (Cross for Combatants)
- Veterans medal of the FNAC issue with 'Palm' emblem

The Combatant's Cross with official 'Cornucopia' logo and Bronze metal hallmarks, or 'poincons' of the Paris Mint

The Combatants cross has 2 x levels of award criteria - and is only awarded in any criteria to those who have served under combat conditions, as under

- for service with a unit asserted as combattant unit (front-line service) by the Ministry of Defense : ninety days of service or a wound or illness received or contracted during service, or ninety days of detention by the enemy

- for service with any unit : mention in dispatches for valor, or direct participation in five fire engagements, or a wound in action, or detention by the enemy without application of the Geneva Convention

The Veteran's medal of the National Federation of the Chasseurs Pied, with 'Palm' is an veteran 'office holders' miniature medal

Obverse: The generic 'Chasseurs' horn insignia with title FNAC

For details, history, traditions and awards of the see their website 'Federation Nationale des Amicales de Chasseurs a Pied, Alpins et Mecanises' at:

- https://bleujonquille.fr/

Chasseurs à pied: Historically the Chasseurs à pied were the light infantrymen of the French Imperial army. They were armed the same as their counterparts in the regular line infantry (fusilier) battalions but were trained to excel in marksmanship and in executing manoeuvres at high speed. The other light infantry unit type, the voltigeurs, specialised as skirmishers and for advance screening of the main force. The chasseurs could also be called upon to form advance guards and scouting parties alongside the voltigeurs

Following the Napoleonic Wars the Chasseurs à pied continued to exist as a separate corps within the infantry. Initially a specially trained elite, their tactical role eventually came to match that of the ordinary lignards (line infantry). By the late 19th century the differences between the two branches were confined to uniform and insignia, although the chasseurs retained a strong esprit de corps

Chasseurs à cheval: Historically the cavalry 'Chasseurs' lacked the higher profile of the identically-armed (but much more lavishly uniformed) hussars. Distinguished by dark green uniforms and a bugle-horn badge, they were frequently used as advance scouting units providing valuable information on enemy movements. Both Napoleon's Imperial Guard and the Royal Guard of the Restoration each included a regiment of Chasseurs à cheval. In addition Napoleon added a further five line regiments to those inherited from the Revolutionary period. At the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the French Army had twelve regiments of Chasseurs à cheval, grouped with eight hussar regiments to form the light branch of the cavalry and tasked with primarily reconnaissance duties. This intended role continued through World War I and the Chasseurs à cheval remained entirely horse mounted until the 1er RCh was motorised in June 1940. Disbanded after the Battle of France, these units were reconstituted in 1944–45 as light armour

During the French occupation of Algeria, regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique were raised. These were light cavalry recruited originally from French volunteers and subsequently from the French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the Zouaves

The medals mounted as worn in the swing style suspended from a gilt metal mounting bar. The mounting bar retaining its original hinged pin & clasp fittings

Condition: GVF

Code: 20997